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USC's Bear Alexander And Jonah Monheim Named To The Lombardi Award Watch List

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Football

USC defensive tackle Bear Alexander and offensive lineman Jonah Monheim were named to the 2024 Lombardi Award Watch List.

The Lombardi Award is presented to outstanding linemen who best epitomize Vince Lombardi's values of leadership, courage, performance and discipline on and off the field.

Alexander will once again be a force to be reckoned with in the trenches as a junior in 2024. He also earned placement on the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award Watch Lists. Additionally, he made the Phil Steele 2024 Preseason All-American Fourth Team, as well as the Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team and Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team.

After transferring from Georgia in the summer of 2023, he made an immediate impact by bolstering the Trojan defensive line. Alexander recorded 48 tackles, including 6.5 for loss (with 1.5 sacks). He led the team with 4 QB hurries, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 1 PBU while appearing in all 13 games and starting 12 (all except California). He was named to the 2023 Phil Steele All-Pac-12 First Team and was an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.

USC, ranked third nationally in scoring offense (41.8), fifth nationally in passing offense (333.0) and tenth in total offense (467.6) in 2023, takes its high-powered offense into the Big Ten with Monheim, a returning captain, at center.

He was also named to the 2024 Outland Trophy and Rimington Trophy Watch Lists, as well as the Athlon Sports Preseason All-American Second Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big Ten First Team and Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team.

Monheim started all 13 games on the offensive line as a redshirt junior in 2023. He started 12 times at left tackle and 1 time at right guard. He was named to the AP All-Pac-12 Second Team and Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Fourth Team.

The Lombardi Award was established in 1970, in memory of legendary coach Vince Lombardi. This marks the 51st anniversary of the award which has been handed out in Houston, Texas since its inception. The 2024 award dinner will take place on Dec. 11, and net proceeds from gala sponsorship and table sales are dedicated to supporting cancer research as well as families and patients battling cancer.